Devon Baxter, DE (Virginia): Baxter is a 6'6", 247 lb. redshirt sophomore for his first season at Virginia.
Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Beasley made 19 tackles and 1 forced fumble in 2025 and is penciled in as a backup linebacker for the 2026 season.
Josh Beetham, TE (Georgia Tech): Beetham started five games and played in all thirteen in 2025, making 6 catches for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns altogether.
Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds started eight games for Arizona in 2025 and is expected to be the starting right tackle in 2026. He's listed at 6'8", 306 lbs. going into his sixth year.
Name: Jyaire Hill Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Kankakee (IL) Kankakee Position: Cornerback Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #20 Last year: I ranked Hill #9 and said he would be a starting cornerback with 40 tackles and 2 interceptions (LINK). He started thirteen games and made 36 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 5 pass breakups. TTB Rating: 88
The big question heading into Hill's 2025 season was whether he had made the necessary jumps in maturity and preparation to be a #1 cornerback. By all accounts, that seemed to have happened, and it showed on the field. There appeared to be fewer missed tackles and fewer busted coverages coming from Hill's side of the field. He notched an interception against Ohio State and was named the team's Defensive Skill Player of the Year, which was a decent accomplishment, considering one of his teammates was Zeke Berry.
I ranked Hill #9 last year and maybe he's deserving of being higher than #8 this season. After all, I have yet to get to the aforementioned Berry. I would like to think that new defensive coordinator Jay Hill could use scheme and personnel - such as Shamari Earls - to work around the proven depth issues at cornerback. Michigan also has a few somewhat inexperienced corners like Jo'ziah Edmond, Jamarion Vincent, Jeremiah Lowe, and others to fill the void at outside corner. The Wolverines need one of those guys to step up this season, and I think that will happen, though I'm not sure which one. Regardless, I think Hill will be a very solid cornerback this season, and Michigan will need him as they face Dante Moore of Oregon, Julian Sayin of Ohio State, John Mateer of Oklahoma, and other solid quarterbacks.
Name: J.J. Buchanan Height: 6'4" Weight: 218 lbs. High school: Henderson (NV) Covenant Position: Wide receiver Class: Sophomore Jersey number: #6 Last year: Buchanan played at Utah. He caught 26 passes for 427 yards and 5 touchdowns while starting seven games. TTB Rating: N/A
Buchanan was a lightly regarded tight end recruiting coming out of high school and was listed by Utah as a tight end in 2025, but he didn't play tight end. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck moved him all around the field, playing him in the slot, outside, snug to the line, etc. He showed a really impressive ability to adjust to short throws and especially balls thrown behind him, and his hands are outstanding. At 6'4" with long arms and strong hands, he's a problem for opponents because of the size advantage against most defensive backs.
Michigan needed help at wide receiver after frankly being pretty bad at receiver in 2025. Michigan has not recruited extremely well at wide receiver in the past couple classes outside of Andrew Marsh, and the inability to throw the ball also goes back to having starting quarterbacks named Davis Warren and Alex Orji, along with a young true freshman Bryce Underwood last year. Kendrick Bell and Channing Goodwin don't strike fear into opponents, so Michigan brought in Buchanan - a size mismatch - and Jaime Ffrench (Texas) and Salesi Moa (Utah). Between Buchanan and Marsh as the top two and then whoever they decide the #3 and #4 receivers will be, the Wolverines should be much improved in 2026.
I wanted to save Buchanan for later and thought long and hard about whether to rank him higher than Andrew Marsh, but ultimately, I think Marsh is the field stretcher and perhaps special teams contributor (kick/punt returner) who could be more difficult to replace. Underwood developed a good rapport with Marsh during the second half of last season, and this spring/summer, it looks like Underwood has done the same with Buchanan. While it should be a run-focused offense, it looks like Michigan will be able to create some big plays and more consistent chunk gains through the air this fall.
Name: Enow Etta Height: 6'5" Weight: 328 lbs. High school: Keller (TX) Covenant Christian Academy Position: Defensive tackle Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #17 Last year: I ranked Etta #43 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 1 pass breakup. TTB Rating: 87
Etta was a tweener defensive tackle/defensive end coming out of high school in 2023, so he spent some time insisting he was an edge player even when he was hovering close to 300 pounds. There were either going to have to be some major body composition changes or he was headed for defensive tackle, and the latter happened. He spent most of 2024 standing straight up and getting pushed around, so he was a work in progress. Last season the light started to come on a little bit, but the production wasn't there. For a top-100-ish recruit not to flash more when the other defensive tackles were so-so was a little disappointing. Overall, 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack isn't awful for a backup defensive tackle, but I had hoped for more out of Etta by year three.
Now it's year four, and Michigan for sure needs more out of Etta. There's no more time to lurk behind Rayshaun Benny or anyone else. Etta has excellent size and athleticism, but things need to start coming together. There aren't many proven options on the defensive front, and defensive tackle might be the most concerning position on the team. I would like to rank Etta higher, but I haven't seen him produce enough on the field to determine whether he's head-and-shoulders above the other guys at the position. Etta almost left Michigan this off-season and supposedly could have got paid handsomely, but he was convinced to return to the Wolverines (likely with a healthy NIL offer) and now he has a chance to show he was worth the bidding war.
Name: Andrew Sprague Height: 6'7" Weight: 310 lbs. High school: Kansas City (MO) Rockhurst Position: Offensive tackle Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #54 Last year: I ranked Sprague #11 and said he would be the starting right tackle. He started twelve games at right tackle. TTB Rating: 89
Sprague was one of those somewhat rare true freshman offensive linemen who starts to get some buzz during his freshman year. It only turned into four appearances - including a start in the short-handed bowl game against Alabama - but it was noteworthy. So going into the 2025 season, it seemed pretty clear that he would play a role in the starting five. When he came out of high school, I thought he could end up as a left tackle in college, but so far he has stuck on the right side. He started twelve games last fall and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
This past off-season, Sprague jumped into the transfer portal and seemed as good as gone, perhaps to a place like Texas. But with Michigan hiring Kyle Whittingham and bringing in standout offensive line coach Jim Harding - who produced two first round offensive tackles in the NFL draft this spring - Sprague decided to stay. The Wolverines have a very young offense and Sprague is actually the most veteran offensive lineman, having started thirteen games now at the FBS level. He was inconsistent at times last season, but he should be one year better this fall for a team that will be offensive line-dependent with a heavy dose of the running game. If Michigan is able to ground and pound like they want to do, Sprague should get some looks as an All-Big Ten performer.
Name: Smith Snowden Height: 5'10″ Weight: 188 lbs. High school: Lehi (UT) Skyridge Position: Cornerback Class: Senior Jersey number: #3 Last year: Snowden played at Utah. He started thirteen games on defense (and started two of those games on offense as well) with 37 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, 13 catches for 57 yards, and 8 carries for 40 yards and 1 touchdown.
Michigan lost a lot from the defensive backfield in the transition from Sherrone Moore to Kyle Whittingham. T.J. and Tevis Metcalf decided to get out of town, and so did Brandyn Hillman (Virginia) and Jayden Sanders (now at Notre Dame). So the Wolverines needed to refill the talent pool, and one of the players they decided to bring in was Smith Snowden, a rarity in college football who is capable of playing both ways. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck used him on different kinds of jet sweeps and bubbles, and he was a mainstay at cornerback on defense.
I know some people are excited about Snowden's potential, but I have some reservations about his ability to compete against the better teams in the Big Ten. There still seems to be some question about whether he will start in the slot or outside, but he's seen as a starter, regardless. After spending some time over the past few months watching him play, I think his tackling and ability to take on blocks could give him a lower ceiling than some think. This is not to say that I think he will be a hole in the defense, but I'm pumping the brakes a little bit on some of the hype I have seen.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill has talked about three guys having the potential to play in the slot (Snowden, Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry), and it sounds like Shamari Earls has been playing well on the outside as the #3 corner. I think it will be important for the cornerbacks to stay healthy, because Michigan has a solid top four and then complete unknowns. We will see a lot of Snowden this fall, perhaps even at punt returner or kickoff returner. And I will be interested to see if Michigan tries to use him on bubble screens and jets like he was used in Salt Lake City, but I'm guessing his offensive usage will be minimal because Michigan has more talent at receiver than Utah had in 2025.
Name: Rod Moore Height: 5'11″ Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont Position: Safety Class: Sixth year senior Jersey number: #1 Last year: I ranked Moore #20 and said he would be a starting safety if healthy. He made 6 tackles and 1 interception while starting one game and playing in three.
Rod Moore has seemingly been around Michigan forever, to the point where I remember watching his high school film during the COVID pandemic while sitting around the house and twiddling my thumbs. If one can be a hero of an Ohio State victory . . . and also a somewhat out-of-sight, out-of-mind entity, well, that's kind of Rod Moore.
After being named a Third Team All-Big Ten safety in 2023 (38 tackles, 2 interceptions), he seemed primed for a big 2024 when he got injured in the off-season. A potential NFL career was derailed - or perhaps just postponed - as Moore stuck around and rehabbed while missing the entire 2024 season. He then had some setbacks putting his 2025 season in jeopardy.
But he returned triumphantly with an interception in his second game of the 2025 season with an interception against Wisconsin! The next week, he started against USC, made 4 tackles, and . . . was not seen again. Another setback with the knee knocked him out for the remained of 2025.
So now we're entering 2026 and Moore supposedly feels better than he has at any point since 2023. He has been named a captain for a third year. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill says Moore is a shoo-in to start at safety, and he has been wearing the "green dot" much of the time as the primary communicator on the defensive side of the ball in practice. I believe he has now had three separate surgeries, but Michigan is looking at him as a focal point for 2026. There's probably an argument to be made that a defensive captain should be ranked higher than #13 in the countdown, and I could probably argue that someone who has missed most of the past two seasons could be ranked lower because he just hasn't produced much lately.
I think all Michigan fans are hoping that Moore can have a healthy season, even if he doesn't quite return to 2023 form. After so much frustration and so many setbacks, it would be nice if he can just play a full season of football and complete his mission. I'm hoping for an All-American type season, but if he stays healthy, I'm thinking he could once again be a Third Team or Honorable Mention all-conference player and that would be a nice way for him to ride off into the Big House sunset.
Name: Blake Frazier Height: 6'6" Weight: 302 lbs. High school: Austin (TX) Vandegrift Position: Offensive tackle Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #77 Last year: I ranked Frazier #36 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He started eight games and played in all thirteen games. TTB Rating: 89
Legacy offensive lineman Blake Frazier got his first taste of playing a big role in the Big House last fall. The son of former Michigan center Steve Frazier, Blake was a in a three-headed battle for the left tackle job against Evan Link and Andrew Babalola. Babalola hurt his knee in camp, and Link hurt his leg partway through the season, so the last man standing was Frazier. Frazier was already starting as the sixth lineman in jumbo packages, so it made sense for him to slide in as a starter at left tackle. But that was still a tall task for a young guy who came in with a ton of potential but lacking bulk. He showed good feet and awareness last season, but there were times where he flat-out got overpowered.
The hope for 2026 is that he's no longer getting overpowered after another off-season in the weight room. There has been a lot of talk about the work of new strength coach Doug Elisaia and guys increasing their lifts significantly. Frazier is still only 302 pounds, so he's a little bit light to expect elite play at this point. I would like to see him up around 310-315 pounds when all is said and done, but he's still just a third-year player. It sounds like Frazier will be the starting left tackle, with Link playing left guard and Andrew Babalola playing a backup or Rhino (extra lineman) role. The group has an excellent offensive line coach in Jim Harding, so if Frazier is indeed the choice at left tackle, that probably bodes well for Frazier's potential to finish out his career and possibly get to the NFL.
Name: Savion Hiter Height: 5'11" Weight: 212 lbs. High school: Mineral (VA) Louisa County Position: Running back Class: Freshman Jersey number: #5 Last year: Hiter was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran for 1,445 yards and 25 touchdowns. TTB Rating: N/A
Having dipped my toe into recruiting for the last couple decades now, it's hard to say much is certain, but I feel like I can say this pretty confidently:
It's hard to think of a high school recruit who has engendered this much hype or, perhaps, innate confidence than Savion Hiter.
Everyone just talks about Hiter like it's a given that he will be a good player immediately in college. There was hype for Bryce Underwood, but quarterbacks always have growing pains as freshmen. People were excited about Will Johnson, but he was joining a pretty solid defensive backfield and had time to grow and develop into the second half of his first year. Nobody expects much from freshman linebackers or guys in the trenches.
But Hiter, according to some, would be starting at most places right now. He's discussed as a guy who might be Michigan's #1 running back by the end of the season and someone who looks like an NFL running back already. That's high praise for a guy who has yet to take a college snap.
Regardless of whether Hiter is ready now or not, he needs to play. Michigan does not have great depth at running back, at least not of the proven variety. While they tried to bring in a couple veterans in 2025 (C.J. Hester, John Volker) to help the 1-2 punch of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, this year the staff is relying on homegrown talent, including former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal. Marshall will presumably start off as the main guy, and then there's Hiter. After that there's Kuzdzal, who has good speed and patience but not much tackle breaking ability, and then a few guys who have never played college football before. At some point this season, Hiter will be needed for some key carries.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Hiter can do in college. I really liked his acceleration in high school, and he brings some physicality with him. I'm not so sure that he will become the #1 guy by the end of the year like some think will happen, but if the duo of Marshall and Hiter can stay relatively healthy throughout the year, this should be the best running back combo in the Big Ten conference.
Name: Trey Butkowski Height: 5'11" Weight: 179 lbs. High school: Orlando (FL) Lake Nona Position: Kicker Class: Sophomore Jersey number: #99 Last year: Butkowski played for Pitt. He made 19/22 field goals and 41/42 extra points. TTB Rating: N/A
Butkowski was a 3-star and the #6 overall kicker in the 247 Composite for the class of 2025. Immediately upon arriving at Pitt, he won the starting kicker job for Pat Narduzzi's squad and proceeded to make 19/22 on field goal attempts, including six makes from 40+ yards. He also made 41/42 extra points and was named to the Lou Groza Award semifinalist list.
Michigan needed a new starting kicker after Dominic Zvada departed for the NFL, so the Wolverines mined Pitt for a new kicker (as well as new long snapper Nico Crawford). Butkowski should be stepping right into a new starting role, because the Wolverines haven't really recruited any other significant kickers in the past couple classes. It probably makes sense to try to poach proven kickers rather than guessing on a high schooler in the current college football climate, so Butkowski is the man for 2026.
The knock on Butkowski is that he doesn't necessarily have the strongest leg, so perhaps Michigan will be attempting fewer kicks from 50+ yards than they did with Zvada. But we should expect him to be accurate on the short to medium kicks, and with several tough opponents this season, some of his kicks in close games could make or break Michigan's College Football Playoff hopes.
Name: Evan Link Height: 6'6" Weight: 313 lbs. High school: Washington (DC) Gonzaga Position: Offensive tackle/offensive guard Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #71 Last year: I ranked Link #18 and said he would be the starting left tackle (LINK). He started seven games at left tackle. TTB Rating: 72
Evan Link had a much better season in 2025 than he did in 2024, and that was reflected in my countdown post from last year. As a redshirt freshman in Kirk Campbell's lone season as offensive coordinator, Link was thrust into the starting right tackle role and he looked stiff and unsure of himself. A former high school left tackle, he looked awkward and got put on his butt several times. Some may not believe it, but it's a whole different world at right tackle, where the footwork, hand placement, etc. are completely opposite. Some might say it's the same thing but just in reverse, so it's no big deal, and to that I would say . . . okay, take a right-handed batter or a right-handed first baseman and then in one off-season when he's 20 years old, make him bat or field left-handed. The baseball example is more dramatic, but it's not irrelevant.
Link started the first seven games at left tackle, and he looked pretty solid. He wasn't blowing people off the ball, but he was fine. And "fine" was much better than "horrid" in 2024. And then just when Link was settling in, he suffered a leg injury that caused him to miss the rest of the year.
Now Michigan has a new coaching staff, and while Link was gone, Blake Frazier got some experience at left tackle. Furthermore, Andrew Babalola - who suffered an ACL tear during camp in 2025 - is now healthy and competing at left tackle. Link has reportedly been getting reps at left tackle this fall, but it appears that Frazier will win that spot and Link will end up starting at left guard. Regardless, I think Link is one of Michigan's top five linemen, so I think new offensive line coach Jim Harding will slot him in somewhere as a starter. The nice thing is that the Wolverines have a couple players like Nate Efobi, Brady Norton, and Avery Gach who all sound like they're pushing for playing time, so whoever loses the right guard job should be a decent backup option.
Name: Chris Bracy Height: 6'1" Weight: 200 lbs. High school: Mobile (AL) St. Paul's Episcopal Position: Safety Class: Senior Jersey number: #7 Last year: Bracy played at Memphis. He started eleven games and made 81 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 10 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. TTB Rating: N/A
Michigan has frankly done an excellent job of recruiting safeties in recent years.
There was a lamentable time when the Wolverines stunk pretty badly at finding and developing safeties, from the mid-2000s through the early 2010s. Names like Michael Williams, Brandon Harrison, Cam Gordon, etc. all floundered on the back end of Michigan's defense, and even elite recruits like Dymonte Thomas looked lost in the defensive backfield until Jim Harbaugh arrived.
That's not the case anymore. Or at least it hasn't been for a while.
Michigan has pretty consistently been getting good safety play for the past several years, recruiting good players and then developing them into NFL-quality contributors. So when the Wolverines looked to Memphis to bring in Chris Bracy, it raised my eyebrows a little bit, because why does Michigan need a Memphis transfer when they have Mason Curtis on the roster, as well as young, highly regarded recruits like Jordan Young and Kainoa Winston?
Well, it turns out this Chris Bracy guy is supposed to be pretty good. After being coached by former Michigan linebacker Desmond Morgan, the safeties coach for Memphis, Bracy went out and put up 81 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2025. He graded out excellent at stopping the run, and he broke up 10 passes last season, too. He was named American Conference Defensive Player of the Week against an SEC team (Arkansas) when he made 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup.
Now Bracy arrived at Michigan in the spring and he picked up where he left off at Memphis. He pretty much asserted himself immediately as a starting safety to the point where head coach Kyle Whittingham said over the summer that Bracy and Rod Moore had essentially locked down the starting safety positions. Young and Winston are just going to have to wait in the wings for another year - barring injury - and Bracy should be a run-stopping force from the strong safety position. So after Michigan lost head-hunter Brandyn Hillman (Virginia) and Tevis Metcalf (Tennessee) to the transfer portal, they might be better off with Bracy and the return of a healthy Moore in 2026.
I expect Bracy to be a bit like former Wolverine Jordan Kovacs, somebody who isn't going to wow with his range but who should make quite a few plays within three yards of the line of scrimmage.
Name: Cam Brandt Height: 6'3" Weight: 270 lbs. High school: Carson (CA) Sierra Canyon Position: Defensive end Class: Senior Jersey number: #9 Last year: I ranked Brandt #29 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He started one game and made 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. TTB Rating: 82
In the days if the transfer portal, it certainly feels like Cam Brandt has been in Ann Arbor for a long time. We're getting used to non-contributors dipping out of town quickly, transplanted starters coming in to play immediately, and shorter tenures for the average player. But now it's year four for Brandt at Michigan, and he finally enters the season as a likely starter.
Michigan has had quality edges for a while now, and Brandt had to wait his turn behind the likes of T.J. Guy, Derrick Moore, Josaiah Stewart, and others. At one time it looked like Brandt might end up as a defensive tackle, but he enters 2026 at a solid size of 270 lbs. for a strongside end. Michigan probably won't get a ton of pass rush juice from Brandt, but he is experienced and has the size that many of his 245-255 lb. position mates lack. With Utah transfer John Henry Daley a shoo-in to start on one side (as long as he's healthy), it should be between Brandt and Dominic Nichols to start at the other end position.
Name: Nathaniel Staehling Height: 6'3" Weight: 241 lbs. High school: Baxter (MN) Brainerd Position: Linebacker Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #44 Last year: Staehling played for North Dakota State. He made 75 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery. TTB Rating: N/A
Surprise! Michigan took an FCS transfer who didn't participate in spring practice, and now here he is at #20 in the countdown. How did that happen?
Nathaniel Staehling was an all-around athlete at Brainerd in the class of 2022, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track. He played quarterback, running back, safety, kicker, and punter in high school, but he was a 0-star recruit. When he got to college, he redshirted in 2022 and played sparingly in 2023 and 2024, making 16 tackles over those two seasons. He finally became a starter in his fourth year and put up solid numbers, entering the transfer portal after the year to potentially make a one-year splash at a big program.
The gamble may have paid off. Michigan really needed some linebackers after losing the top three guys (Ernest Hausmann to graduation, Jimmy Rolder to the NFL, and Cole Sullivan to Oklahoma) following last year. The Wolverines have an array of talented but totally unproven players at the college level. Staehling looks like he's battling Troy Bowles, Chase Taylor, and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng for playing time this year, and word trickling out seems to indicate Staehling should be a starter this fall. He's a veteran with starting experience under his belt, and he has the size we expect from a Big Ten inside linebacker at 6'3", 241 lbs. He may not play like an all-star, but Michigan's options if they want solid-sized, experienced linebackers really diminish if Staehling has to miss any time.
#21. Nathan Efobi - OG - Atlanta (GA) South Forsyth: Efobi is a 6'4", 303 lb. fourth-year player with nineteen games of experience under his belt, including five starts last season. He started early in the year before losing his job to Jake Guarnera, and then Efobi started again in the Cheez-It Bowl against Texas. The offensive line has been pretty difficult to peg in the off-season because of a new staff and a lot of talent. The Wolverines have several players with starting experience returning (Efobi, Guarnera, Blake Frazier, Evan Link, Andrew Sprague, Brady Norton) and a couple young guys (mainly Andrew Babalola, but also including Avery Gach and Marky Walbridge) who have been earning solid reviews from practice. Efobi looks like the probably starter at right guard, but things could change with about three weeks left until the season opener.
#22. Zack Marshall - TE - Carlsbad (CA) Carlsbad: Marshall is a 6'5", 245 lb. fourth-year guy who seems to have become a senior very quickly. He caught 16 passes for 199 yards and 1 touchdown in 2025 and was named the team's Most Improved Offensive Player. I'll admit I didn't give Marshall high marks coming out of high school, but the way he represents himself, talks about Michigan, and is respected by his teammates suggests he does things right off the field and has worked his way into being the projected starting tight end going into 2026. He started three games last year and came out of nowhere to catch 5 passes for 72 yards and 1 touchdown against Washington. Prior to that game, he had made 3 catches for 29 yards up through six weeks of the season. Michigan has other capable tight ends, plus the Rhino position to add to the mix, so Marshall may not be an every-down staple in the Wolverines offense. But we should see him on the field quite a bit this fall.
#23. Chase Taylor - LB - Ellenwood (GA) Stockbridge: Taylor is a 6'2", 222 lb. inside linebacker who made 10 tackles as a true freshman last season. He came in light during the 2025 cycle, right around 200 pounds, and has since added a decent chunk of weight. Michigan recently released its fall roster and most of the linebackers seem light, which makes me a little bit concerned for their Big Ten viability going into the 2026 season. I would like to see a guy who's 6'2" to be at least 230 lbs. if he's going to be playable, and Taylor obviously isn't there right now. It seems like Taylor could be a starter at inside linebacker, but there are a few options for the position, including Troy Bowles and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng.
#24. Dominic Nichols - DE - Frederick (MD) Oakdale: Nichols is a 6'5", 245 lb. defensive end who played in twelve games last season, making 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Entering his third season on campus, he has been mentioned as possibly the best pass rusher on the team, which is saying something considering the presence of Utah transfer John Henry Daley. I'm open to that possibility, but we haven't really seen it show up on the game field yet, so I'm cautiously optimistic. Michigan seems to have a few good options at the edge positions, including Nate Marshall, Cam Brandt, and Lugard Edokpayi. (NOTE: Another player who has recently started getting a lot of buzz is freshman Tariq Boney.) Nichols could emerge as a starter who's a terror off the edge, or maybe he's still just rotating behind one or two other guys. My guess is that we see him play a pretty big role as a quality backup.
#25. Nico Crawford - LS - Dublin (OH) Scioto: Crawford is a 6'0", 230 lb. fifth year senior who has played in 37 career games through his career, one that has spanned Charlotte, Illinois, and two seasons at Pitt. Now on his fourth school year in five years, he would seem to be the best bet to start at long snapper for the Wolverines in 2026. Michigan does have some other options, including sophomore transfer Gavin Magorien, but Crawford has the most experience. Hopefully this is approximately the last time we talk about long snappers for the next several months.
#26. Andrew Babalola - OT - Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley Northwest: Babalola is a 6'6", 305 lb. second-year player who missed the 2025 season due to an ACL tear during fall camp. A former 5-star recruit, he now has a chance to potentially start at left tackle for the Wolverines. The problem is that he's battling with Blake Frazier, a third-year player who also came into college as a pretty darn athletic tackle prospect. Babalola missed a year of on-the-field development and wasn't extremely technically developed as a prep player, so I think he will begin the year as the sixth lineman or potentially the Rhino. There are usually injuries and/or re-shufflings on the offensive line, so he could very well move into the starting lineup at some point this season.
#27. Shamari Earls - CB - Richmond (VA) Thomas Dale: The 6'2", 195 lb. sophomore played in six games last season, but it was a pretty forgettable year. He didn't record any statistics whatsoever. But going into the 2026 season, it sounds like Earls has developed into approximately what people expected, and he has jumped past most of the guys on the roster. If not for the transfer arrival of Smith Snowden and the slightly unexpected return of Zeke Berry, Earls might be penciled in as a starter at cornerback. It sounds like he will be the third outside corner, and that guy plays quite a bit of football throughout the season. Snowden and Berry will both be out of eligibility after this season and starting cornerback Jyaire Hill will probably jump to the NFL, so Earls has an opportunity this season to play significant minutes and then be prepared to step in as a full-time starter in 2027.
#28. Cam Brown - P - Coolangatta (Australia) Palm Beach Corrumbin State: Brown is a 6'3", 185 lb. player who spent his 2025 freshman season at UNLV for Dan Mullen. He punted 22 times for 943 yards (42.9 yards/punt), forced 8 fair catches, and landed 8 punts inside the 20-yard line. Michigan has a returning starter at punter in Hudson Hollenbeck, but Hollenbeck was pretty inconsistent last season with several shanked punts. I expect Brown to be the starter in 2026, but with an experienced and pretty capable backup, he's not necessarily paramount to Michigan's success this year.
#29. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng - LB - Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Owusu-Boateng is a 6'1", 216 lb. sophomore who played in seven games in 2025, making 4 tackles. Linebacker is a very uncertain group in 2026 because the Wolverines lost their top three linebackers: Jimmy Rolder (NFL), Ernest Hausmann (left the team), and Cole Sullivan (Oklahoma). They also didn't do a great job of replacing the position in the transfer portal. One would think a team like Michigan could attract and/or afford some top talent, but they got some so-so transfers. Perhaps Max Alford or Aisea Moa or Nathaniel Staehling will turn out to be stars, but the jury is still out. Regardless, Owusu-Boateng seems like someone who will be a good player down the road, but he's very light at 216 lbs. and doesn't have much experience. I expect him to be a backup in 2026, but I'm not sure anyone but perhaps the coaches knows how this will play out.
#30. Hogan Hansen - TE - Bellevue (WA) Bellevue: Hansen is a 6'6", 240 lb. junior who caught 6 passes for 74 yards in 2025. In some ways, he looks like the smoothest tight end Michigan has had outside of Colston Loveland in the past several years. In other ways, he looks exactly like 2024 Colston Loveland in that he was injured for most of 2025. Hansen appears to be a potential difference maker as a receiving tight end with his smooth hands, but he will need to stay healthy. Tight end is another interesting position battle in 2026, because there's the Rhino position (see Andrew Babalola above), there are a couple fullback types in the mix (Jalen Hoffman and Eli Owens), and then there are a few true tight ends like Hansen, Zack Marshall, and Deakon Tonielli. I like what Hansen brings to the table as a receiver, and new offensive coordinator Jason Beck did a good job getting production from tight ends in 2025 at Utah: Dallen Bentley had 48 catches for 620 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Utes, and J.J. Buchanan - who was listed as a tight end - was flat-out used as a receiver because his skills were recognized as a mismatch. Furthermore, Beck turned former Wolverine Dan Villari into an all-around threat in 2023 at Syracuse, where Villari totaled 6 touchdowns as a passer, runner, and receiver.
#31. Jaime Ffrench - WR - Jacksonville (FL) Mandarin: Ffrench is a 6'2", 185 lb. second-year player who's in his first year at Michigan after transferring from Texas. The former elite recruit played in four games last season for the Longhorns (1 catch for 6 yards). Michigan needed significant help at the position this off-season, and it should be an improved group. Ffrench seems likely to be no higher than the #3 receiver behind Andrew Marsh and J.J. Buchanan, and the #3 wide receiver for Utah last year caught 15 passes for 280 yards and 6 touchdowns. I think Ffrench will catch more than 15 passes for the Wolverines in 2026, partly because he supposedly has a good rapport with classmate Bryce Underwood.
#32. Nate Marshall - DE - Oak Park (IL) Fenwick: Marshall is listed at 6'3", 248 lbs. in his second year in Ann Arbor. He made 6 tackles and showed some flashes of athleticism in 2025, but he seemed a little light. He's still not very big for a Big Ten defensive end, but an extra year in the weight room hopefully helped. Michigan needs some help at edge rusher and Marshall was a highly valued recruit coming out of high school. Practice buzz has been somewhat limited, and he seems like a guy who will play significant minutes, but it might be 2027 before he really breaks out or commands a starting role.
#33. Troy Bowles - LB - Tampa (FL) Jesuit: Bowles is a 6'0", 224 lb. third-year player who spent one year at Georgia in 2024 before arriving at Michigan last season. He was supposed to be a deep backup, but multiple injuries to linebackers like Cold Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder led to him seeing more playing time than expected. He made 27 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 blocked kick. The linebacker position is one of the more intriguing position battles in camp, because there are a lot of bodies, but nobody has really accomplished much. Nathaniel Staehling, Aisea Moa, and Max Alford are all veteran transfers, Bowles played significant minutes last year, and then there are people like Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Chase Taylor, who are totally unproven. I have a feeling that Bowles will end up as a backup this season (barring injury to someone), but it's a bit of a crapshoot.
#34. Salesi Moa - WR - Ogden (UT) Fremont: The 6'2", 186 lb. freshman signed with Utah and then immediately transferred to Michigan over the winter, following head coach Kyle Whittingham across the country. Michigan also landed his older brother Aisea Moa in the transfer portal. The Wolverines seem pretty set with their #1 and #2 receivers (see Jaime Ffrench's blurb above), so Moa seems to be fighting for the #3 spot with Ffrench and a couple other players. I don't know how that will shake out, but I'm giving the edge to the older player in Ffrench. Moa ended up ranked as a 4-star, the #2 athlete, and #49 overall in the 2026 recruiting class, so he was a highly regarded recruit. We might see flashes from him this fall, and I personally would like to see how he might look as a kickoff returner. But he's a freshman, so I'm keeping my expectations low for now.
#35. Brady Norton - OT - Mission Viejo (CA) Mission Viejo: Norton is a 6'4", 310 lb. senior who had three starts and played in seven total games in 2025. Norton seems to be in the running to start at offensive guard in 2026, battling with the likes of Nate Efobi, Evan Link, and others. Ranked at #35 here, obviously it looks like I expect him to lose the position battle, but he should be a capable backup who can play a few positions on the offensive line. He spent some time at offensive tackle while he was in junior college in California. He could be a starter or he could be the #7 or #8 lineman on the team.
#36.Jonah Lea'ea- DT - Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman: Lea'ea is a 6'5", 285 lb. fourth-year player who made 38 tackles and 1 sack while playing at Utah last season. He came along with head coach Kyle Whittingham from the Utes and has starting experience, so it's easy to see why he might have a little leg up on the competition in Ann Arbor. However, he's a little bit light to play defensive tackle in the Big Ten, and he got pushed around a little bit last season, too. The goal this off-season was to continue adding weight (he was listed at 230 lbs. coming out of high school), so perhaps if/when the fall roster is posted, he will be in the 290s or so. I expect him to be a backup to Enow Etta, but he should still play a good amount.
#37. Houston Ka'aha'aina-Torres - C - Honolulu (HI) St. Louis: Ka'aha'aina-Torres was a 3-star, the #45 interior offensive lineman, and #636 coming out of high school in 2025. He spent last season at Nebraska and played in two games before entering the transfer portal and landing at Michigan in the off-season. After coming out of high school at 265 lbs., he is now listed at 6'3", 300 lbs. Michigan has Jake Guarnera entrenched at center, but Ka'aha'aina-Torres could be his primary backup or at least compete for the role. True freshman Ace Hamilton has also received solid reviews at center, and Michigan has a couple veterans who could potentially snap the ball. The backup center role could be a very important spot, but Ka'aha'aina-Torres's lack of experience makes it questionable whether he will be the best option right now.
#38. Mason Curtis - S - Nashville (TN) Ensworth: Curtis made a good sized splash in 2025, starting three games as a sophomore and making 34 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. The 6'5", 211-pounder is kind of a returning starter, so why is he ranked at #43? Well, first of all, it does not appear that Curtis will be starting in 2026. Captain Rod Moore is returning from injury (hopefully) and Michigan brought in Memphis transfer Chris Bracy, who seems to have earned the other starting safety role. Michigan also has some talented depth at safety that includes Jacob Oden and Jordan Young, among others. Curtis should get a fair amount of playing time in 2026 and play on special teams, but he probably won't be starting again unless there are injury problems.
#39. Lugard Edokpayi - DE - Bowie (MD) Bishop McNamara: Edokpayi is a 6'7", 250 lb. defensive end who played in eight games last season. Sporting the #88, he always looks like a backup tight end who is getting some two-way snaps off the edge, but no, he's a full-time defensive player. Edokpayi regularly gets mentioned as a freak athlete who does impressive things in practice, but those things didn't really show up on the field in 2025 when he didn't record any statistics. Another year in the weight room has likely helped, and Edokpayi will probably be in the edge rusher rotation and play quite a bit this season. His long frame and athleticism should help, and hopefully his technique and attack plan will have improved this year after another season at the position.
#40. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi - QB - Aledo (TX) Aledo: Fowler-Nicolosi might be highly underranked here at #40. The 6'3", 212 lb. fifth year senior transferred in this summer after spending the past four years at Colorado State. He started 28 total games over that span, including one as a freshman in 2022. Colorado State hasn't been very good, and Fowler-Nicolosi's numbers also haven't been stellar (38 touchdowns to 29 interceptions, 60.2% completions), but he's experienced at the college level, which is something that can't be said about the trio of Tommy Carr, Chase Herbstreit, and Brady Smigiel, who have a combined zero snaps of college playing time. Michigan is likely in a situation where if the starter (Bryce Underwood) goes down, the team's chances of doing much of anything go with him. Fowler-Nicolosi's lack of running ability means the offense's identity would have to change, and perhaps that gives Carr the edge in the race to be the backup. The coaches said Carr would head into fall camp as the backup quarterback. I think they'll try to get Fowler-Nicolosi up to speed as the solid veteran to fill in, but if Michigan gets to a point this season where they have to build for the future, they might just throw Carr in there and let him prepare to be The Guy down the road.
#41. Tommy Carr - QB - Saline (MI) Saline: Carr is a 6'4", 185 lb. true freshman (LINK) who showed up in the winter after flipping from Miami-OH late in the recruiting process. He's the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, the son of former Michigan quarterback Jason Carr, and the brother of Notre Dame starting quarterback C.J. Carr. Tommy was the talk of the spring game and performed better than Bryce Underwood, though spring games should be taken with a grain of salt. That he was committed to Miami-OH was a bit of a miracle because he was ranked as a 4-star, the #22 quarterback, and #318 overall in the recruiting class. I will admit that I probably have Carr (or Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi) ranked too highly, because this means I will have three quarterbacks ranked in the top 41 players, but Fowler-Nicolosi didn't enroll for spring practice and I was a little nervous that he wouldn't show up. (Michigan has seen similar departures from transfers like Taylor Tatum and Colin Hurley, who enrolled in the winter and then left the team.) My guess is that Carr will end up the #3 guy and try to develop for 2027, but he's a good looking athlete who could have a bright future in a winged helmet.
#42. Carter Meadows - DE - Washington (DC) Gonzaga: Meadows is a 6'7", 252 lb. true freshman who should make a pretty immediate impact at Michigan. He has added some decent weight since the time when he committed, when he was listed in the area of 220-225 pounds. His previous weight is virtually unplayable at his height, but now that he's reportedly in the 250s, that's a good sign. Michigan has a solid edge group with Dominic Nichols, Cam Brandt, John Henry Daley, and others, but Meadows probably has the highest upside of any edge rusher on the roster. He was a 5-star, the #4 edge player, and #9 overall in the 2026 recruiting class, and while there are things he needs to improve, there are going to be situations where defensive coordinator can send him to go after the quarterback . . . and at 6'7", 252 lbs. with his speed, that's enough to speed up a quarterback's timing at the very least.
#43. Benny Patterson - DE - Newburgh (IN) Castle: Patterson has been flying under the radar a little bit over the past year or so, but the 6'2", 270 lb. second-year player has been mentioned by several people as a rising contributor for the 2026 squad. After playing in five games in 2025, he now has a chance to work his way onto the field in some capacity. He's not quite big enough to hold his own at defensive tackle and doesn't have great pass rushing chops off the edge, but he has supposedly made some great strides in the weight room. We should start to see him emerge this fall, perhaps rotating with the likes of Cam Brandt.
#44. Deyvid Palepale - DT - Manheim (PA) Hempfield: Some people had high expectations for Palepale coming out of high school as a stalwart nose tackle, but things have started off slowly for him during his first two years on campus. After not seeing the field in 2024, he played in two games toward the end of the 2025 season. Michigan needs players to step up at tackle, and Palepale has been earning some buzz as one of those guys who should see the field in 2026. As a 6'2", 335 lb. nose tackle, he has a chance to be stout in the middle. I don't expect much of a pass rush from him, and we'll see how well conditioned he is. But if the coaching staff can manage his snaps appropriately, he could be the primary backup for starting nose tackle Trey Pierce this season.
#45. Hudson Hollenbeck - P - Collierville (TN) Collierville: In one of the more intriguing position battles, returning starting punter Hollenbeck will be in a fight to maintain that job. Hollenbeck has the capability to boom some punts, but he's one of the more inconsistent punters I've seen at Michigan. He averaged 43.2 yards per punt last season (40 punts for 1,729 yards) and had eleven punts go for 50+ yards, including a 67-yarder. He also shanked several opportunities. His 43.2 yard average is decent, and it would look even better if he didn't doink one off the side of his foot every couple games. So Michigan brought in UNLV starting punter Cam Brown, and Brown probably has the inside track to start this fall. Hollenbeck could potentially handle kickoff duties, and he was also the Wolverines' holder last season, so there are still opportunities for him to play. But his main role from 2025 is in jeopardy of being lost for the 6'2", 206 lb. fifth year senior.
#46. Bryzon Kuzdzal - RB - Grand Rapids (MI) Forest Hills Eastern: Kuzdzal is a 5'11", 210 lb. redshirt junior who was a walk-on in 2023 when the team won a national championship. He went from not playing in any games that year to playing on special teams in 2024 and then starting two games at running back in 2025 after Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall got injured. Kuzdzal had 76 carries for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 20 carries for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns against Maryland. Perhaps an extra year in the weight room will help, but he's generally a pretty quick runner who didn't really show much ability to break tackles. After entering the transfer portal this off-season to find a bigger opportunity, he returned to Michigan after Justice Haynes jumped in the portal and landed at Georgia Tech. Kuzdzal will likely be the third running back this season, behind Marshall and freshman Savion Hiter.
#47. Deakon Tonielli - TE - Oswego (IL) Oswego: Tonielli is a 6'5", 246 lb. redshirt junior who made two starts at tight end in 2025, grabbing 8 catches for 72 yards. He didn't play in any games during his first two seasons on campus and then suddenly found himself starting at times, largely because starter Marlin Klein missed a big chunk of time due to a leg injury. The pecking order at tight end is questionable right now, but it appears that Hogan Hansen and Zack Marshall will be ahead of Tonielli on the depth chart. Michigan will also use an extra lineman in place of a tight end at times. I would not be surprised if this is his final season in Ann Arbor unless he can surge past one or both of those aforementioned players for some momentum going into 2027, but for now he should be a solid third tight end.
#48. Jordan Young - S - Monroe (NC) Monroe: Young is a 6'0", 195 lb. sophomore who played in ten games last season, making 15 tackles and 3 pass breakups. He has earned solid reviews from practices, but competition is stiff in the defensive backfield. It was thought that he could contribute at the nickel position, but defensive coordinator Jay Hill mentioned three players vying for time at nickel (Smith Snowden, Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill) who weren't named Jordan Young. It also appears that Rod Moore and Chris Bracy will be the two starting safeties, so Young will be battling for a backup role somewhere. Some spots should open up in 2027 with eligibility running out for a few of the aforementioned players, so he might be a starter for the Wolverines in another year.
#49. Jalen Hoffman - TE - Burke (VA) Lake Braddock: The 6'3", 245 lb. redshirt junior Hoffman waited a few seasons at Michigan to replace Max Bredeson at fullback, only to have the offense change just before his big opportunity arrived. Hoffman played a fair amount in 2025 as Bredeson's backup and the highlight of his season was probably when he recovered an onside kick against Michigan State. I don't know exactly what to expect from the offense in 2026, but it feels like the fullback/H-back position might be de-emphasized when compared to the Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore eras. Michigan also has thumper Eli Owens as a somewhat similar fullback type to Hoffman, so it will be interesting to see how much these body types and skill sets will be used by new offensive coordinator Jason Beck.
#50. Jacob Oden - S - Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods: Oden is a 6'1", 205 lb. redshirt sophomore who played in ten games on defense in 2025, making 3 tackles and 1 interception. The interception came against Washington when eventual first round pick Denzel Boston had an uncharacteristic drop after beating the defense, and Oden happened to be nearby on the ground, with the ball falling into his lap. It wasn't the most beautiful play, but it still goes in the stat book. Anyway, Oden will be a backup once again in 2026, battling with the likes of Jordan Young (see above) and Mason Curtis for playing time. Oden should also be a factor on special teams.
#51. Aisea Moa - LB - North Ogden (UT) Weber: Moa is a 6'2", 238 lb. fifth year senior who is the older brother of Michigan freshman wide receiver Salesia Moa. Aisea spent three years at BYU before transferring to Michigan State in 2025, where he made 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 pass breakups. (He made 2 of his 12 tackles in the Michigan game.) He played for new Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill when he was at BYU, so he has some familiarity with the system as well as some playing experience (27 total games played during his four years). He does not appear to be in the running to start at linebacker, but he will probably play some special teams and should be able to help in the linebacker room as the inexperienced group learns Hill's system.
#52. Channing Goodwin - WR - Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Goodwin is a 6'1", 197 lb. redshirt sophomore who started six games in 2025. It's odd for a half-season starter to drop so precipitously from where we might expect a returning starter to be, but Michigan has upgraded its wide receiver corps. Goodwin had 12 catches for 148 yards last season and did some nice things at times, and I admitted at one point last year that he seemed to be faster than he looked when he was coming out of high school. But the talent in the position group has been upgraded with transfers J.J. Buchanan (Utah) and Jaime Ffrench (Texas), along with freshmen Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson. Goodwin seems like a fairly reliable player who should be able to jump in the game adequately in case of an injury or two, or just to give someone a breather, but he doesn't seem to have game-changing ability.
#53. Travis Moten - DT - Louisville (KY) Fern Creek: Moten is a 6'6", 315 lb. monster of a human who's a bit of a question mark at this point. He has the requisite size to be a force, but he only played in one game last season, his first year of college. Michigan needs some players to step up at defensive tackle, especially if Utah transfer Jonah Lea'ea hasn't been able to add weight and/or won't be able to hold up inside for the Wolverines. Michigan also has other options like Benny Patterson and Deyvid Palepale who are unproven, and the team needs someone from that cluster of players to emerge as a rotational player in 2026.
#54. Eli Owens - TE - Alcoa (TN) Alcoa: Owens is a 6'1", 244 lb. redshirt freshman who has said all the right things - he wants to be a team player and wants to emulate former Michigan fullback/tight end Max Bredeson. The biggest question is whether Michigan will employ fullbacks and tight ends in the same way they did under Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore. Owens even took over the #44 jersey from Bredeson, but the transplanted Utah staff used a "Rhino" - a backup defensive lineman or offensive lineman - as an extra tight end last year, and they averaged having 5.5 offensive linemen per snap in 2025. Owens is likely to be a backup to Jalen Hoffman, so I don't have high expectations for Owens to be a major factor in 2026, but he should be in the mix to play on special teams.
#55. Jamar Browder - WR - Jacksonville (FL) Santaluces: Browder is a 6'5", 215 lb. sophomore who played in seven games as a freshman last season. Despite playing a fair amount, he did not make any receptions. Michigan brought in several new receiving targets (see Channing Goodwin's blurb above) and Browder was already behind a few guys, so he will probably not see a ton of playing time in 2026. His biggest asset - mini tight end size at 6'5", 215 - may be something the offensive coaching staff could use in some jumbo sets or down near the goal line, but I expect him to play fewer snaps this year than last year.
#56. Bobby Kanka - DT - Howell (MI) Howell: Kanka is a 6'4", 305 lb. second-year player who has quietly emerged as someone I think might start making some contributions in 2026. While I wasn't high on him coming out of high school, he has added some good weight and looks like someone who could play some backup snaps. I'm not expecting him to be a starter or work his way into the regular rotation, but playing some snaps to rest the top few guys isn't out of the question, depending on the game situation. Michigan does need some players to emerge at defensive tackle, and Kanka is in the mix.
#57. Travis Johnson - WR - Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith: Johnson is a 6'2", 185 lb. true freshman who enrolled early and immediately looked good for the Wolverines, according to practice reports. A 4-star, the #18 wide receiver, and #125 overall in the 2026 class, he has the recruiting pedigree to be an early contributor. His MGoBlue profile says he had "at least" 40 catches for 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, so that's roughly 30 yards per catch if those numbers are close to being accurate. I think Johnson will definitely play in 2026, but it's a matter of how much. The Wolverines kept Andrew Marsh and brought in J.J. Buchanan (Utah) and Jaime Ffrench (Texas), along with landing freshman transfer Salesi Moa (Utah); Moa seems to be ahead of Johnson right now, and Johnson will also have to contend with holdovers Kendrick Bell and Channing Goodwin. Johnson is more talented than Bell or Goodwin, but the experience factor may work against him.
#58. Jo'Ziah Edmond - CB - Indianapolis (IN) Northwood: Edmond has been pretty quiet through two seasons in Ann Arbor, and now he's a 6'1", 185 lb. defensive back with ten total appearances under his belt. He only played in the first two games in 2025 after playing in eight games in 2024, so perhaps there was something going on behind the scenes like a minor injury. But the depth chart behind Jyaire Hill and Smith Snowden is pretty murky, and this year would be a prime opportunity for another cornerback or two to step up. Edmond looks like he's at least behind Shamari Earls in the running for playing time, and I would have expected Edmond to have a little more weight on him by this point in his career. We're not likely to see a breakout season from Edmond, but he could emerge as a rotational corner behind the aforementioned guys.
#59. Taylor Tatum - S - Longview (TX) Longview: Tatum is a 5'10", 212 lb. redshirt sophomore who spent the past two seasons playing running back at Oklahoma. Michigan was a finalist for him back in 2024 and recruited him out of the transfer portal prior to the Sherrone Moore scandal going public. Tatum is now listed as a safety instead of a running back, and he looked decent in the spring. If Michigan were to run into depth issues at running back, it's possible that Tatum could switch positions, but for now it looks like he'll stick on the defensive side of the ball. Tatum has not been mentioned among the top few safeties, so I don't imagine he'll see significant playing time on defense, but he does offer upside with his versatility and perhaps an ability to contribute on special teams.
#60. Marky Walbridge - OT - Hanover (MA) St. Sebastian's: Walbridge is a 6'6", 285 lb. true freshman who enrolled early during the winter. He was a 4-star, the #25 offensive tackle, and #241 overall in the class. Spring practice reports mentioned him as somewhat of a pleasant surprise for someone who was supposed to be finishing his senior year of high school, and there have been whisperings that he could be the "Rhino" in Michigan's offensive personnel package that would bring in a sixth lineman as a quasi tight end. While that remains a possibility, I'm always skeptical of true freshman offensive linemen. Jim Harbaugh used to his sixth best offensive lineman as the extra guy, and I doubt that's Walbridge; furthermore, sometimes the position requires people to think on the move as defenses adjust and shift, and I would think an older player might be able to make those adjustments and recognitions a little quicker. Regardless, it's possible that we see Walbridge playing a role in 2026.
#61. Kendrick Bell - WR - Kansas City (MO) Park Hill: Bell enters his fourth season on campus as a 6'2", 205 lb. wide receiver. After starting his career as a quarterback and then quickly transitioning to receiver, he ascended to the point in 2025 where he started one game and played in all thirteen. He made 3 catches for 54 yards on the season, including a touchdown against Texas in the bowl game. Now he seems to be a bit of an afterthought with Michigan keeping Andrew Marsh and bringing in Jaime Ffrench (Texas), J.J. Buchanan (Utah), and higher schooler Travis Johnson, among others. There's still a chance that Bell could start a game here or there in certain packages or if an injury or two happen, but he's not looked at as one of the top few options.
#62: Jonathan Brown - RB - Columbus (OH) St. Frances de Sales: Brown is a 6'3", 200 lb. running back who was an under-the-radar land (3-star, #50 RB, #804 overall) for the Wolverines in the class of 2026. Running backs coach Tony Alford took a liking to him at a football camp in the summer of 2025 and extended an offer, and Brown supposedly looked pretty good in the spring. It's probably too early to expect much from a freshman running back who is pretty tall and slight at this point, but Michigan has a solid top three at running back and then things get murky with Brown, Donovan Johnson, and walk-ons. Here I have Brown as the #4 running back, so hopefully the top three stay pretty healthy throughout the season.
#63. Jacob Baggett - K - Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Baggett is a 6'0", 170 lb. freshman who set a North Carolina state record for touchbacks in a single season with 95 touchbacks out of 102 kickoffs. He also made 6/7 field goals and his only miss was from 51 yards. High schoolers kick off from the -40 yard line, whereas college kickers kick from the -35, so Baggett will have a slightly larger challenge to get touchbacks for the next few years. I'm not sure quite where to place him in the countdown, because he could end up as the kickoff specialist or he could never see the field at all. Returning specialist Hudson Hollenbeck has spent most of his time punting over the past couple seasons, but Michigan also brought in Pitt place kicker Trey Butkowski (zero kickoffs in 2025) and UNLV punter Cam Brown (zero kickoffs in 2025). Whether it's Baggett or one of the other three, somebody is going to be handling kickoff duties for the first time in college.
#64. Avery Gach - OG - Franklin (MI) Groves: Gach is a 6'5", 308 lb. redshirt freshman who played in five games last season, including the Cheez-It Bowl against Texas. The coaching staff seemed to like his gritty attitude and I heard him mentioned several times as someone to watch for as an up-and-comer. I think his lack of experience will hold him back from being a major contributor in 2026, but he appears to be on that next rung of players who could slide into a key role when someone ahead of him moves on or gets injured. The problem for Gach could be that the guys ahead of him are also pretty young, so he may have to wait even beyond next year before a spot opens up.
#65. Gavin Magorien - LS - Erie (PA) McDowell: Magorien is a 6'0", 202 lb. second-year college player after transferring in from Marshall over the off-season. He was Marshall's long snapper in twelve games last season, so he's rather experienced - and pretty small, by the way - for a second year college player. Michigan seems to have pumped out solid long snappers for the past several years, so this is the first time in a while where the position is a little uncertain. However, along with Magorien, the Wolverines brought in fifth-year Pitt long snapper Nico Crawford, who also spent time at Illinois and Charlotte. My guess is that the fifth-year, three-year starter will start over the second-year, second-year starter, so here Magorien is at #65 on the countdown.
#66. Kainoa Winston - S - Washington (DC) Gonzaga: Winston played in one game in 2025 and enters his second year as a 5'11", 204 lb. safety. He was a hyped recruit who I thought would get a little more playing time in 2025, but for whatever reason, that didn't happen. Winston now has a chance to use his speed and hitting ability with the new coaching staff and compete with a variety of safety options. I will be interested to see if defensive coordinator Jay Hill sees him more as a nickel or a safety, but Michigan has several safety/nickel types who will likely be moving on after this year (Chris Bracy, Rod Moore, Smith Snowden, etc.) and the coaches will probably start to prepare some of these young guys for more significant roles in 2027.
#67. Alister Vallejo - DT - Liberty Hill (TX) Liberty Hill: Vallejo is a 6'3", 310 lb. freshman whom a lot of people have compared to Mason Graham. Graham was a first year contributor back in 2022, but he played against better competition in high school. Vallejo (4-star, #23 DL, #212 overall) has some similar skills but may need a little more time to percolate. I expect him to work his way into the rotation this season, and it's nice to see that he's a playable size. Some defensive tackle prospects come in at around 270 pounds or so and then they just can't even see the field for a while. By the end of the season, I think Vallejo will be a pretty steady contributor as a backup.
#68. Jeremiah Lowe - CB - Lexington (KY) Frederick Douglass: Lowe is a 5'11", 180 lb. player entering his third season in a Michigan uniform. He has only played two games in his career, but he made 2 interceptions in the 2025 spring game and there's an opportunity in a revamped secondary. He could play on special teams and may find a backup role on defense. Michigan has some good players returning and brought in Smith Snowden from Utah, so there's some healthy competition for playing time in the secondary.
#69. Jamarion Vincent - CB - Waco (TX) Connally: Vincent is a 6'2", 170 lb. corner who was kind of a quiet late addition to Michigan's class. After flipping from Baylor to Michigan in late November 2025, he then enrolled early and earned some buzz during spring ball. Obviously, there were other headlines this off-season for Michigan, but normally I feel like Michigan stealing the #150 recruit late in the cycle would generate a little more excitement. His lack of bulk may hold him back in 2026, but some situational seasoning may take place to see if he can solidify a role for 2027.
#70. Manuel Beigel - OG - (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall: Beigel is a 6'5", 312 lb. player entering his third year. He spent his first two seasons playing defensive line, but the new coaching staff moved him to offensive line this off-season. If offensive line coach Jim Harding sees something in him, then that's probably a good sign that the position switch is a good idea for his development. Beigel played in seven games last season and recovered a fumble on defense. It's not clear how much of a factor he'll be in 2026 and I would guess it will be at least 2027 before we see anything significant from him on offense, but the 2025 coaching staff started to get his feet wet. It will be interesting to see if the transplanted Utah staff also tries to keep him involved.
#71. Jaylen Pile - WR - Dallas (TX) Parish Episcopal: Pile is a 6'0", 195 lb. freshman wide receiver who caught 55 passes for 1,186 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior last season. He finished the recruiting cycle as a 3-star, the #180 wide receiver, and #1263 overall. I'm not overly high on Pile's skills, but I have no idea how he's ranked that low. His speed isn't anything special, but he does have good toughness, hands, production, etc. I don't think he'll ever be a #1 receiver for Michigan, but he could be valuable as a complementary receiver or as a returner.
#72. Markel Dabney - LB - Richmond (VA) Huguenot: Dabney is a 6'1", 225 lb. freshman who enrolled in Ann Arbor this winter. He made 68 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 1 interception on defense, and he also had 624 yards of total offense with 12 touchdowns on offense. With the linebacker room in flux, Dabney has an opportunity to get some backup snaps as a freshman and perhaps play some defense. Ranked as a 3-star, the #50 athlete, and #804 overall, he played several different positions in high school, but he should make some big improvements once he settles in at one position in college.
#73. Malakai Lee - OT - Honolulu (HI) Kamehameha: Lee is listed as a 6'7", 350 lb. true freshman. I knew he was big, but I didn't realize he would weigh that much coming into college. He has a thick, solid build, so 350 pounds on Lee looks different than on some other players, but it's still tough to get on the field early at that size. My guess is that the coaching staff will try to get him somewhere around 330. In many years Lee (4-star, #13 OT, #107 overall) might seem like someone who could slide onto the field in year one as a backup, but Michigan has a variety of more veteran options. I think the coaches will let him get his feet wet, but we're probably looking at 2027 at the earliest for any major contributions.
#74. Aden Reeder - LB - Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Reeder is a 6'2", 215 lb. freshman who made 47 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 2 pass breakups as a senior in 2025. He finished the cycle as a 3-star, the #54 linebacker, and #634 overall. Reeder has length and speed and looks like someone who could play on coverage units as a freshman, so while I don't think he will play much defense, I could see him being on the kickoff coverage unit from week one.
#75. Jordan Deck - S - Frisco (TX) Lone Star: Deck is a 6'2", 190 lb. freshman who was a 4-star, the #31 safety, and #379 overall in the 2026 class. As a senior in 2025, he made 106 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions (one of which he returned for a 96-yard touchdown). The Wolverines have a good amount of depth at safety, but it always seems like there's a guy who plays early even when the rotation seems pretty full. Deck has a solid build and some good skills. Nothing truly stands out about him (size, speed, hitting ability, etc.), but sometimes those guys end up being really steady safeties.
#76. C.J. Charleston - WR - Cleveland (OH) Gilmour Academy: Nobody really talks about this, but Charleston is a super weird eligibility story and I have no idea what's going on when it comes to why he's still on Michigan's roster. The 6'0", 190 lb. wideout started two games for Michigan back in 2024, so he has played at the Big Ten level . . . but he started his college career all the way back in 2019. Just for some context, Michigan's headliner in the 2019 class was Daxton Hill . . . who is now entering his fifth season in the NFL. Charleston played at Youngstown State prior to Michigan and is now in his third season on the Wolverines roster. He was injured last year and the plan for him this fall is unclear. I have a hard time believing he'll work his way back to a starting role, partly because the new coaching staff has upgraded the receiver room with transfers like Jaime Ffrench and Salesi Moa. But Charleston does have college playing experience and is the oldest player on Michigan's roster, so maybe that will be enough to get him on the field situationally.
#77. Nico Andrighetto - S - Mountain View (CA) St. Francis: Andrighetto is a 5'9", 190 lb. fifth year senior who has been named Scout Team Player of the Year three times during his career - on defense in 2023-2024 and on special teams in 2025. He made just 1 tackle last season but played in eight total games. We'll see if the new coaching staff will also recognize his strengths and abilities, but I figure Andrighetto will continue to be a contributor on special teams.
#78. I'Marion Stewart - WR - Chicago (IL) Kenwood: Stewart is one of those players who came in with some excitement . . . and now it seems to be getting late early. He didn't see the field in 2024 and suffered an ACL injury in 2025, so now he enters year three in college with zero playing experience. Once thought of as a potential kick/punt returner and a possible solution at slot receiver, he seems to be getting zero buzz. I'm giving the edge to Charleston (see above) when it comes to importance, but Stewart had higher upside coming out of high school. Is he healthy and can he translate the mental reps from the past couple years into doing some good things on the field this fall? My guess is that we won't see much of him in 2026, but maybe he could show up as a returner on special teams.
#79. Kaden Catchings - LB - Jackson (MS) Hartfield: Michigan's first signee out of Mississippi since Jeremy LeSueur, Catchings is listed as a 6'1", 220 lb. freshman. He made 29 tackles and 2 sacks on defense and rushed for 336 yards and 6 touchdowns on offense during his senior season. Michigan brought in several transfer linebackers (Max Alford, Aisea Moa, Nate Staehling, etc.) and has some unproven talent in the linebacker room, so the depth chart is a little bit muddy. However, Catchings is probably not going to play much this fall.
#80. Chase Herbstreit - QB - Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Redshirt freshman Herbstreit is listed at 6'1", 198 lbs. and appears to be well down the depth chart for the Wolverines. The son of ESPN analyst - and former Ohio State quarterback - Kirk Herbstreit, Chase fell behind true freshman Tommy Carr as soon as Carr arrived on campus this winter. With former Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi also entering the fray this summer, it appears that Herbstreit will be no higher than fourth on the quarterback depth chart. His size, athleticism, and arm strength are only so-so, which means his path to playing time will have to come from his intellect. I don't think that will be enough for him this season, so Herbstreit will likely be a scout team guy in 2026.
